Harrington: Out-of-sorts but an 'ultimate pro'

He is still a major force in the world of golf, but I would have expected him to have performed better. I guess it shows you what pressures come from being the Open champion.

Mark Roe on Padraig Harrington.
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With only 11 weeks to go until the Ryder Cup, each tournament takes on greater importance because there are still some very big names not sure of their places in Nick Faldo's team.

This is a time when there are a lot of Ryder Cup points up for grabs and it's a time for golf's superstars to start stepping on the accelerators and securing their places for Valhalla.

I'm talking in particular about Padraig Harrington, who has not consistently shown his best form since he won the Open Championship last year.

There have been some highlights, particularly his fifth-placed finish at the US Masters, but there haven't been any victories to rejoice.

That's quite strange for somebody who has a wonderful work ethic, leaves nothing to chance and behaves like the ultimate professional.

I would perhaps have expected him to kick on and win regularly after gaining so much confidence from his Open win because a year ago he was simply one of the best players in the world.

He is still a major force in the world of golf, but I would have expected him to have performed better. I guess it shows you what pressures come from being the Open champion.

In some ways the pressures on the course are eased because he now knows he can win at any level, but he has had to cope with more pressures and obligations away from golf.

As Open champion there will be more demands on his time from all over the world and he will subsequently have had to schedule things differently.

Talent

I'm certain there has been an adaptation period and I think his drought without a win is only temporary. He showed his class at the Masters and maybe this week's European Open will see him step back into the limelight and back onto the winners' rostrum.

I still expect him to be in Faldo's team, provided that he is playing somewhere near his best golf by the time the Ryder Cup comes around.

I've said many times that there is such a wealth of European talent that Nick doesn't need to look too far down the Order of Merit for his picks, but somebody with the class of Harrington will be a major consideration if he doesn't make the top 10.

Another guy with Valhalla in his thoughts is Ian Poulter. I've been speaking to him this week and it's clear he wants nothing more than to be in the Ryder Cup team.

I feel for him because he's been plagued by a niggling wrist injury and having watched him practising at the London Club, it's clearly an issue. He's got it strapped up and it has definitely affected his performances this year.

Nobody wants to be playing when they're not 100 per cent fit and healthy, especially with something like a wrist problem which makes you frightened to commit to a shot as soon as you get into the rough.

That could be a problem for him this week because the rough at the European Open is very thin, wispy and straggly and it will be very hard to get out of.

Confidence

The course is looking great by the way. The greens are in super condition, the fairways look beautiful and it is very typically Nicklaus with deep bunkers guarding the greens.

Having played it myself two weeks ago I'd say it's a fine golf course, but we need the wind to blow to test the players or else we might see some very low scores this weekend.

It will be a test for Poults, but I always feel he's never too far away from a return to confidence. Nobody loves the big stage and the limelight more than he does and if he has one good round we could see all of his confidence come flooding back.

He's always been a solid winner having won in every year of his career so he knows what he needs to do if he gets into contention.

So it's a big weekend for him and also for Darren Clarke who will be hoping to bounce back from the disappointment of missing out in Open qualifying.

It would be an absolute delight to see him play well at the London Club and again in Loch Lomond and get himself into the Open Championship after all.

If he doesn't make it then the Open will miss somebody who, on his best form, is capable of winning a major championship. He's a confidence-driven player and we saw what he's capable of when he won the BMW Asian Open in April.

He's one of only two players alongside Tiger Woods who has won two World Golf Championships, which proves he's a world-class player. I don't think he's a long way from his best and it would be lovely to see him win the European Open this weekend and find himself a way to Royal Birkdale via the back door.

But he will have an awesome field to contend with.

This tournament features the Order of Merit winner Justin Rose, the Players Champion Sergio Garcia and the Open champion Harrington so we really will have a feast for you on Sky Sports - especially when you consider the likes of Poulter, Michael Campbell and so many more are in the supporting cast.

There's a plethora of stars for the British golfing public to admire at the London Club - don't miss it!